University of North Texas Athletics
Tennis Begins Fall With Big Day
9/10/2021 5:02:00 PM | Women's Tennis
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — On the first day of the fall tennis season Friday afternoon, North Texas went 11-1 at the Contender CrossFit Islander Open at Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
UNT's freshmen went a perfect 6-0 in the multi-flight singles and doubles event.
The Mean Green competed against opponents from UTSA, Sam Houston St., UT Rio Grande Valley, Incarnate Word, Tyler Junior College, UT Tyler, Lamar and Texas A&M Kingsville.
"We played with a lot of heart and it felt great to be out there competing again," said assistant coach Rodrigo de Almeida. "We could see the hard work from the summer paying off in some of the courts and we look forward to seeing how the rest of the tournament unfolds."
Last season's Conference USA Newcomer of the Year began this season right where she left off last season, as a winner. Senior Lucie Devier paired with freshman Jasmine Adams to pick up a dominate 8-3 win in doubles and then in singles had a straight set win, 6-2, 6-3.
The Mean Green this season have added three freshmen to the program who all join UNT with immense experience. Likhitha Kalava from India, Jasmine Adams from Australia and Liisa Vehviläinen of Finland are the North Texas newcomers. The three of them combined went undefeated in their six matches on Friday.
"It was encouraging to watch our freshmen win every match decisively today and display their talent and commitment from the first ball," de Almeida said. "It's been a great test for our team to play in this hot weather and it will make us stronger overall."
The 2020 C-USA Newcomer of the Year Maria Ponomareva also had a strong start to her senior season. Ponomareva paired with freshman Kalava won their morning doubles match 8-5 and then in singles won in straight sets 6-3, 7-5.
UNT will be back in action Saturday for day two.
RESULTS
SINGLES
Oyama (UNT) def. Rubio (Lamar); 6-1, 6-2
Ponomareva (UNT) def. Kramarova (TJC); 6-3, 7-5
Kalava (UNT) def. Knaab (TAMUK); 6-1, 7-6(2)
Hublevska (AMCC) def. Hummel (UNT); 6-1, 6-7(6), 6-2
Zhou (UNT) def. Maier (TAMUK); 7-6, 5-3
Devier (UNT) def. Townsend (AMCC); 6-2, 6-3
Vehviläinen (UNT) def. Zlatarova (UTSA); 6-4, 7-5
Adams (UNT) def. Donkor (TAMUK); 6-1, 6-1
DOUBLES
Ponomareva/Kalava (UNT) def. Ibrasheva/Saravanan (UTT); 6-3, 6-2
Devier/ Adams (UNT) def. Donkor/Sante (TAMUK); 8-3
Vehviläinen/ Oyama (UNT) def. Sasaroga/Putz (UTRGV); 8-3
Hummel/ Zhou (UNT) def. Maier/Zaffar (TAMUK); 8-4
UNT's freshmen went a perfect 6-0 in the multi-flight singles and doubles event.
The Mean Green competed against opponents from UTSA, Sam Houston St., UT Rio Grande Valley, Incarnate Word, Tyler Junior College, UT Tyler, Lamar and Texas A&M Kingsville.
"We played with a lot of heart and it felt great to be out there competing again," said assistant coach Rodrigo de Almeida. "We could see the hard work from the summer paying off in some of the courts and we look forward to seeing how the rest of the tournament unfolds."
Last season's Conference USA Newcomer of the Year began this season right where she left off last season, as a winner. Senior Lucie Devier paired with freshman Jasmine Adams to pick up a dominate 8-3 win in doubles and then in singles had a straight set win, 6-2, 6-3.
The Mean Green this season have added three freshmen to the program who all join UNT with immense experience. Likhitha Kalava from India, Jasmine Adams from Australia and Liisa Vehviläinen of Finland are the North Texas newcomers. The three of them combined went undefeated in their six matches on Friday.
"It was encouraging to watch our freshmen win every match decisively today and display their talent and commitment from the first ball," de Almeida said. "It's been a great test for our team to play in this hot weather and it will make us stronger overall."
The 2020 C-USA Newcomer of the Year Maria Ponomareva also had a strong start to her senior season. Ponomareva paired with freshman Kalava won their morning doubles match 8-5 and then in singles won in straight sets 6-3, 7-5.
UNT will be back in action Saturday for day two.
RESULTS
SINGLES
Oyama (UNT) def. Rubio (Lamar); 6-1, 6-2
Ponomareva (UNT) def. Kramarova (TJC); 6-3, 7-5
Kalava (UNT) def. Knaab (TAMUK); 6-1, 7-6(2)
Hublevska (AMCC) def. Hummel (UNT); 6-1, 6-7(6), 6-2
Zhou (UNT) def. Maier (TAMUK); 7-6, 5-3
Devier (UNT) def. Townsend (AMCC); 6-2, 6-3
Vehviläinen (UNT) def. Zlatarova (UTSA); 6-4, 7-5
Adams (UNT) def. Donkor (TAMUK); 6-1, 6-1
DOUBLES
Ponomareva/Kalava (UNT) def. Ibrasheva/Saravanan (UTT); 6-3, 6-2
Devier/ Adams (UNT) def. Donkor/Sante (TAMUK); 8-3
Vehviläinen/ Oyama (UNT) def. Sasaroga/Putz (UTRGV); 8-3
Hummel/ Zhou (UNT) def. Maier/Zaffar (TAMUK); 8-4
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Friday, May 15
Monday, May 11
Saturday, April 18
Wednesday, April 15